Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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25.11.2012 |
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Strength training and cardio during chemotherapy
Ten years ago doctors told cancer patients that they should take it easy and not take too much exercise. After all, chronic fatigue and nausea are a big problem among cancer sufferers. Nowadays, however, doctors are telling cancer patients that they should keep moving. Danish researchers even got patients to go to the gym in their periods of chemotherapy, and the results were encouraging. The patients felt more energetic and became fitter and stronger.
Exercise fights cancer
Nevertheless this approach is effective: we now know officially. In August 2012, researchers at the University of New Mexico published a review study of the effect of movement during treatment for cancer. [Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Aug 15;8:CD008465.]
The researchers compiled the results from 56 trials and reanalysed them. Their conclusion? Exercise in the form of cycling, weight training, yoga or qigong improves quality of life, reduces fatigue and improves physical and social functioning. The exertion needs to be a little intensive: light training works, but moderately intensive training works better.
Study
Results
Chemotherapy and radiation can have side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, tingling as a result of nerve damage, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, muscular pain, joint and pain and other forms of pain. The exercise programme had a positive effect on ten of the twelve side effects. [Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2006 Sep;10(4):247-62.]
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